The Archpriest Habbacum

The article talks about Habbacum (in Rus. — Avvakum) Petrov (1620–82), a prominent figure in the Russian Old Believers who opposed church reforms that were undertaken by Patriarch Nikon in the middle of the 17th century. They particularly opposed the introduction of the three fingers sign of the cross instead of the centuries-old two fingers sign and the editing of ancient liturgical books, using new printed Greek editions. The author traces the tragic fate of the rebellious archpriest, who was brutally persecuted by the authorities and finally burned alive by their order in a wooden log house. Considerable attention in the article is paid to the literary works of the sufferer, including his autobiography, the first in the history of Russian literature.